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STORY: UN / DRC KEITA PRESSER
TRT: 4:18
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 21 FEBRUARY 2025, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE – NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, aerial view of the United Nations headquarters
21 FEBRUARY 2025, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, press briefing room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Bintou Keita, Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO):
“First, let me begin by reaffirming MONUSCO's unwavering commitment to its obligation under international humanitarian law to protect unarmed individuals seeking refuge in its bases. Following the fall of Goma on 28 January, more than 1,400 high-risk individuals— have sought protection, including civilians, women, and children.”
4. Wide shot, journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Bintou Keita, Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO):
“The current situation is unsustainable due to the sheer number of individuals under our protection, managing with difficult living conditions and limited supplies for longer than anticipated. MONUSCO urgently calls—and I insist, MONUSCO urgently calls—for a safe, dignified, and internationally supported solution for the transfer of these individuals to an alternative secure location, in full respect of their rights and choices.”
6. Wide shot, journalists
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Bintou Keita, Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO):
“The continued occupation of parts of North Kivu by the M23, supported by the Rwandan Defense Forces, has severely constrained MONUSCO's ability to fully implement its mandate in the province. Freedom of movement restrictions, including roadblocks and 48-hour advance notification requirements, prevent the mission from protecting civilians and carrying out life-saving operations.”
8. Wide shot, journalists
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Bintou Keita, Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO):
“Very public declarations and statements by AFC/M23—clearly repeated overtime including last week show that the intent is to go up Kinshasa. It is our understanding looking at what’s going on in North Kivu, but also the onward push toward South Kivu, and we are understanding that they are pushing even further, toward Tanganyika.”
10. Wide shot, journalists
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Bintou Keita, Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO):
“When you see all this movement you can understand that the intent is followed by continued action which is not respecting the cessation of hostilities and ceasefire. And second, with regard to SAMI DRC, first of all I try to communicate that it’s only in North Kivu, in Goma, that we are in our bases. But then, with the conditions and requirements we are still moving around. And SAMI DRC is also at its base, but this is in Goma. for all other bases we the mission continuously performing our mandate of protection of civilians.”
12. Med shot, journalist
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Bintou Keita, Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO):
“What we see is the communication from AFC/M23 and this is where we are stopping at the establishment of, the appointment of a governor for Goma or a mayor for Goma. And we understand that the same is going, is happening for Bukavu.”
14. Wide shot, press briefing room, speaker on screen
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Bintou Keita, Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO):
“On the vote this afternoon of the resolution, I believe it's a well, a good timing. I don't have insight into how this vote is going to go, but my expectation is that it's going to be voted unanimously.”
16. Wide shot, end of press briefing
Briefing reporters at UN headquarters, MONUSCO chief Bintou Keita reaffirmed the mission’s commitment to protecting civilians under international humanitarian law. “Following the fall of Goma on 28 January, more than 1,400 high-risk individuals—have sought protection, including civilians, women, and children,” she said.
However, Keita cautioned that the mission is facing significant challenges in sustaining this protection “due to the sheer number of individuals under our protection, managing with difficult living conditions and limited supplies for longer than anticipated,” she said.
Keita said, “MONUSCO urgently calls—and I insist, MONUSCO urgently calls—for a safe, dignified, and internationally supported solution for the transfer of these individuals to an alternative secure location, in full respect of their rights and choices.”
Keita also pointed to ongoing security threats posed by the M23 armed group, which has taken control of parts of North Kivu with backing from the Rwandan Defense Forces. “Freedom of movement restrictions, including roadblocks and 48-hour advance notification requirements, prevent the mission from protecting civilians and carrying out life-saving operations,” she said.
The UN official warned that the group’s ambitions extend beyond North Kivu. “Very public declarations and statements by AFC/M23—clearly repeated over time, including last week—show that the intent is to go up Kinshasa,” she said. Keita added that M23 forces are continuing their push southward, toward South Kivu and Tanganyika.
She further expressed concern over reports that AFC/M23 is attempting to consolidate political control in occupied areas. “What we see is the communication from AFC/M23… at the establishment of, the appointment of a governor for Goma or a mayor for Goma. And we understand that the same is happening for Bukavu,” she said.
Regarding MONUSCO’s ongoing operations, Keita clarified that the mission remains engaged in North Kivu despite significant restrictions. “With the conditions and requirements, we are still moving around,” she said, adding that SAMI DRC, a regional force, is also stationed in Goma while MONUSCO continues to fulfill its civilian protection mandate across other bases.
Keita also commented on an upcoming UN Security Council resolution on the crisis, that is scheduled today (Feb 21) saying her “expectation is that it's going to be voted unanimously.”
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